[986boxster1998]

I got some VDO gauges for the Design1Racing 3 hole gauge plate; a dedicated Boost Gauge, Vacuum Gauge, and Air/Fuel Ratio Gauge. Now I need to figure out how to make them functional as well as interior decor.



Has anyone else hooked up the boost or vacuum gages from VDO? They sell a tubing kit that uses a 1/8" line, I was thinking of finding and adapter to a 3/16" barb fitting instead to hook up to vacuum line.



Also any thoughts on where the best place to pass through the fire wall or splice into the vacuum tubing would be?

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[flash]

well, you're going to have a problem with a separate boost gauge and vacuum gauge. you need one that does both. the good news is that VDO makes just such a gauge and in that pattern. pack that stuff up and send it back.

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[986boxster1998]

I saw the combined gauge and figured it would work, but it had turbo printed right in the middle of it so I thought dedicated gauges would look cleaner in the cabin. It sounds like I'll be ordering that turbo gauge; with the D1R SC kit the maximum the gauge should ever show is 5 psi correct?

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[Cloud9...68]

I have an oil temperature gauge in my (home-made) console gauge panel. May not be terribly useful in a street car, but it looks cool, and it's fun to watch.

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[flash]

i had the VDO that did not say "turbo". check egauges.com



max boost is 5psi.



oil temp gauge is very helpful. it's a second indicator of condition, and a good backup for a gauge that we know can be wonky.

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[986boxster1998]

Thanks guys! I found one that could work and provides the additional bar scale, it does look a bit more cluttered though:

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[flash]

not bad. i think that's the series i used. i had a clock, an oil temp, and the vacuum/boost

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[Cloud9...68]

So what are you going to put in the third spot?

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[flash]

while my deck has a clock, i miss my clock in the dash. i also REALLY miss my oil temp gauge, and i'm still working on that one. i think i have a solution, but i need to finish a couple of things first.

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[Cloud9...68]

Yeah, the oil temp gauge is very cool. I ended up changing my mind and going with a digital one, and given how slowly the oil temp changes, I'm happy with the decision. But in a street car, analog gauges probably look a little better.

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[986boxster1998]

This is what I purchased for the third space, I'll have to think of another gauge now that the Vacuum/Boost will be in one gauge and might go with the oil temp gauge. This one's an Air Fuel Ratio and is on it's way from Australia (hopefully its fairly straight forward to hook up as I'm not yet sure if I need an additional sensor welded into the exhaust or if I can tap into the stock oxygen sensor):

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[flash]

i'm not a fan of those led a/f gauges. it's really hard to read them. the lights bounce all over the place as you are on and off throttle. it will go max lean off throttle and max rich on throttle. the only time those are useful is at steady state, and that's pretty much a no brainer.



even digital readout gauges are a problem. you have to think about where you are and what you have left.



i am a much bigger fan of 270 degree analog gauges. you can see at a glance where you are. in a race car, i rotate them to normal at 12. in a street car, i line them up horizontally so they are pretty.

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[MB968]

I used Autometer gauges in my Mazda/Ford. Like Flash, I prefer the 270 degree sweep. I had the led, as I liked the fact that the color was easy to see without even looking. I think there were about 16 leds making up the 270 degree sweep. If you are running boost, there is a big difference in the safety factor if you're running rich at 13.8:1 vs 12.5:1, or 11:1. You'll want to be able to distinguish between these a/f ratios. hThe one you have shown has so few leds that there isn't a lot of definition. They also make gauges that have a digital readout of the a/f in addition to the 270 degree sweep around the perimeter so you can see the actual a/f if you want.

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[MB968]

[quote name='986boxster1998' timestamp='1372879311' post='145217']

(hopefully its fairly straight forward to hook up as I'm not yet sure if I need an additional sensor welded into the exhaust or if I can tap into the stock oxygen sensor):

[/quote]



You should have no problem hooking into the stock oxygen sensor. In fact, my preference is to use it since it is what the DME is seeing. So, you might as well be looking at the same signal for any troubleshooting benefit it will give you. 3M makes in-line crimp on connectors that allow you to tap into an existing line. I've used them extensively in the past with never an issues.

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[flash]

the narrow band O2 sensor for the computer is the wrong speed for the gauge to be effective. you need a wide band for an accurate reading.



mixture monitoring is far less of an issue with a centrifugal unit than with a turbo or a roots blower. you don't get the abrupt spikes like you do with a turbo, nor the instant boost of the roots. consequently those gauges are really not terribly helpful. but, they look cool, and impress your friends.

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[986boxster1998]

I did some searching and found other analog gauges, I was just stuck on having all the gauges being VDO. The gauge I ordered is a wideband with 10 LEDs so it sounds like I'll need to get a wide band sensor. Good to know centrifugal unit maintains mix better then others.

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[flash]

i don't know about "better" but it's more gradual, due to developing power based on rpm. throttle position still plays in, but because it's basically a belt driven turbo, it acts differently, and behave more like a naturally aspirated engine. that means that the mixture readings are easier and less "all over the map" and less likely to have issues with lean condition detonation, if fueled properly and tuned properly from the start.



that's exactly why i spend 200 hours tuning this, and why it is the ONLY system that is CARB approved.

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